Water motor



Jan. 2l, 1930. w. G. KrrcHENs WATER MOTOR Jan. 2l, 1930. w- G, Kn-CHENS 1,744,555

WATER MOTOR I l Filed June 27. 1928 A 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 al mi l l l elwomq w. G. KrrcHENs 1,744,555

WATER MOTOR Jan. 21, 1930.

3 Sheets-Sheet 3 v Filed June 27, 1928 ff nl Fr 7- Patented Jan. 21, 1930 UNITED STATES WILLIAM G. KITCHENS, OF WEDOWEE, ALABAMA WATER MOTOR Application led `Tune 27,

This invention relates to a water motor. An important object is to provide a construction wherein the operating parts, pai1` ticularly the water wheel, are capable of observation at all times and in which the bearings and various parts are readily accessible for oiling, inspection or repair.

Another object is to provide a construction in which the wheel casing has water chiots or passageways inclining inwadly and downwardly at an angle of approximately fortyive degrees to the horizontal and wherein the water will strike the vanes or" the wheel at the same angle.

It is further aimed to provide a novel construction having automatically maintained water-tight bearings under gear control.

A further aim is to provide a novel construction which may be installed outside of the penstock or water house to afford mai:-

imum convenience.

Various additional objects and advantages will be pointed out or become apparent from a consideration of the description following taken in connection with accompanying drawings illustrating an operative embodiment.

In said drawings Figure 1 is a view of the improved water motor in substantially central vertical section;

Figure 2 is a view substantially in plan taken on the line 2 2 of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a sectional view taken on the line 3-3 of Figure 1;

Figure et is a side elevation of the water gate or valve per se;

Figure 5 is an enlarged detail view of one oi' the gear connections for operating the gate;

Figure 6 is an elevation of the parts of Figure 5 looking from the lett and with the water gate removed;

Figure 7 is a detail sectional view taken on the line 7 7 of Figure 5, and

Figure S is an inverted plan view of a fragment of the rack of the gate.

Referring specifically to the drawings, the casing generally designated 10 is made up ot a core 11 and a conduit 12, the latter compris ing a suitable number of sections 13 bolted or 1928. Serial N0. 288,680.

riveted together as at 14 and having the inlet as at 15 adapted 'for attachment to a wall 16 of a penstock so as to receive water therefrom.

The core 11 has generally tangentially arranged inlet passages 12 which are disposed at an angle of substantially forty-live degrees as shown in Figure 1 in order to discharge water against a rotor 13 of the. turbine type, having its blades 14 arranged at an angle of forty-tive degrees for maX- inium coaction with impinging water entering through the passages 12.

The water admitted to the passages 12 may be regulated since a valve gate 15 is seated on the outer wall of the core and it is to be noted that the said wall is tapered and that the valve or gate 15 is correspondingly tapered7V whereby the gate through the action of gravity maintains an effective seat on the core. The gate has ports 16 therethrough adapted to partially or completely register or to completely cut off the supply et' water to the passages 12', the latter position being indicated in Figure 3.

To accomplish the function mentioned, the gate 15 is rotatable To this end, gate 15 has an inwardly extending flange as at 17 whose under surface is provided with gear teeth 18 and thus constitutes a rack. Flange 17 is spaced from the parallel wall of the core 11 so as to provide spaces as at 19 in which pinions 20 are located and which are arranged in mesh with the teethelS. Pinions 2O are mutilated or cut away as at 2Ob so that they may completely disengage the gate to enable it to t tight on its seat by gravity. Flanges 2Oc on pinions 20 engage a track 2Od on the flange 17 inwardly of teeth 18. Shafts 21 are journaled in bearings 22 formed on the core and on the opposite side of such bearings to the pinions 20. Shafts 21 have beveled gear Wheels 23 keyed thereto. r1`he bearings for shafts 21 are water-tight as the pressure of the water against pinions 2O maintains them in intimate water-excluding con tact with bosses 2OaN of their bearings.

Arranged in mesh with the beveled gear wheels 23 is a relatively large horizontal beveled gear Wheel 24 which is adapted to be oplOO Cil.

Vrated to adjust the different gear wheels and accordingly the valve through the medium of a gear wheel or pinion 25 meshing with gear teeth 26 on the gear wheel 24 and controlled by a shaft 27 having a hand wheel 28 fastened thereon. Gear wheel 24 has radial arms 24 and a collar 24".

The core 11 has an upwardly extending flange 29 and a downwardly extending flange 30, each of which is annular and secured water-tight, by riveting or otherwise, to the conduit section 12.

An upright 31 surrounds the main shaft 32 which is keyed to the rotor 13. 24 is journaled on upright 31. Shaft 32 rotates in a ball bearing structure 33 mounted at the top of the element 31 and in a ball bearing structure 34 adjacent the top of the rotor 13 which is mounted by bracket arms 35 fastened to bracket arms 36 diverging from the member 31 and fastened as at 37 to the core 11. Arms 36 are extended as at 36a across the running joint line of the core and rotor.

Particular attention is called to the fact that the parts 24, 36, 35 are generally open or spider-like, to afford openings for view or observation of the various working parts, to the end that the working may be observed at all times to enable inspection and in order that the parts may be disassembled for repair and may be readily oiled.

The rotor 13 and shaft 32 are held in position in the core 11 by a supporting member 38 Jfastened as at 39 to the core 11, and including radial spokes 40 providingr openings therebetween for escape of the water. The core 11 and associated parts may be mounted upon a foundation or bed ,plate 41 or the like and be fastened thereto as by bolts at 42.

Various changes may be resorted to provided they fall within the spirit and scope of the invention.

I claim as my invention 1. A motor of the class described having a peripherally tapered core, conduit means, said core having` flanges fastened to the conduit means and having passages for water communicating therewith, a rotor to which the passages lead, and a supporting member for the rotor maintaining it in operative position within the core and having a water discharge passage therethrough, a tapered gate for said passages seated on the periphery of the core, and means rotatably and adjustably mounting said gate.

2. A motor of the class described having a core, conduit means, said core having flanges fastened to the conduit means and having passages for water communicating therewith, a rotor to which the passages lead, a supporting member for the rotor maintaining it in operative position within the core and having a water discharge passage therethrough, a gate for said passages peripherally seated on the core, and means rotatably and adjustably Said collarA mounting said gate, said means being generally of spider form to permit observation of the rotor therethrough.

3. A motor of the class described having a core, conduit means, said core having upper and lower flanges fastened to the conduit means and having passages for water communicating therewith, a rotor to which the passages lead, a supporting member for the rotor maintaining it in operative position within the core and having a water discharge passage therethrough, a gate for said passages peripherally seated on the core,` means rotatably and adjustably mounting said gate, said gate having an inwardly extending flange Yabove its seat and outwardly of the upper flange of the core provided with gear teeth on the lower surface thereof, gears in mesh with said teeth, a. shaft mounting said gears and provided with beveled said beveled gears, and means to operate the beveled gear of generally open form.

4. A motor of the class described having a core, conduit means, said core having upper and lower flanges fastened to the conduit means and having passages for water communicating therewith, a rotor to which the passages lead, a gate for said passages peripherally seated on the core, means rotatably and adj utably mounting said gate, said gate having an inwardly extending flange above its seat and outwardly of the upper flange ofthe core provided with gear teeth on the lower surface thereof, gears in mesh with said teeth, a shaft mounting said gears and provided with beveled gears, a beveled gear of generally open form in mesh with said beveled gears, means to operate the beveled gear of generally open form, a supporting member iaintaining said rotor in place in the core and provided with a water discharge opening therethrough, a shaft extending from the rotor, bearings for said shaft in spaced relation and means extending from the core and supporting said bearings, the latter means extending across the line of engagement between the core and the rotor and adjacent the core being open so that the latter may be observed.

5. A motor of the class described comprising a rotor, a core in which the rotor operates having passages for the supply of water thereto, a shaft extending from the rotor, a bearing means for said shaft, said bearing means having a part secured to the core, and said part being extended whereby it is disposed across the junction line between the rotor and core and in engagement with the rotor.

In testimony whereof l affix my signature.

ILLIAM G. KITCHENS.

gears, a beveled y gear of generally open form 1n mesh with llO 

